Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Jackie Speier Backs Reprogramming U.S. Aid Package to Help Armenia Combat COVID-19

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, has voiced strong support for reprogramming already appropriated U.S. aid to help Armenia contain the COVID-19 crisis, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

During an ANCA – San Francisco/Bay Area tele-townhall meeting with Congresswoman Speier, she responded to a question on re-purposing Armenia aid from longtime ANCA leader Roxanne Makasdjian, saying: “The effort to redirect some of the $40 million that I was able to get into the budget for this fiscal year, is something that we will certainly pursue and it makes all the sense in the world, when you are in a pandemic like this, what’s the most urgent need? The urgent need is to provide care to those who are sick, to prevent those from getting sick, and certainly to test those who may or may not be exposed.”

On April 3rd of this year, ANCA Chairman Raffi Hamparian called on Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to immediately reprogram $25 million from the Congressional appropriated aid package for Armenia as part of an expanded U.S. assistance program to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic with urgently needed medical equipment and supplies, technical assistance, and support for at-risk families. On March 24th, he formally requested that U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Lynne Tracy, expand support for the COVID-19 related efforts of Armenia’s Ministry of Health, the American University of Armenia’s Center for Health Services Research, and social service organizations like the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).

ANCA supporters from across America are advocating for expanded U.S. assistance to Armenia and Artsakh for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. The ANCA has thanked the State Department for its initial $1.1 million emergency allocation, welcoming new aid and encouraging the reprogramming of already appropriated assistance – consistent with the forward-leaning approach of the European Union.

• Bio
• Twitter
• Latest Posts

ANCA

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian-American grassroots organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.

@ANCA_DC

Latest posts by ANCA (see all)

• Coalition of U.S. legislators call for American leadership to secure justice for Artsakh and the Armenian Genocide - April 18, 2024
• ANCA Rising Leaders rally support for Artsakh and Armenia - April 17, 2024
• Senators urge administration to secure the release of Armenian POWs and ensure Artsakh’s right to return as precondition for peace talks - April 5, 2024